Gluten free, Low Calorie, Macro Friendly, Product Recommendations, Recipes

Boston Cream Pie Protein Cake

This recipe is another one of my experiments with Lil Buff Protein Cake Mix – other than being a little difficult to remove from the pan after baking I have really enjoyed baking with this cake mix so far. I was really happy with how this cake turned out, it really is like a Boston Cream donut made into a healthy cake.

Again this recipe is not dairy free, due to the cake mix and the yogurt I used for the filling/frosting. However, it is gluten free, high in protein and extremely filling! I cut this cake into quarters to make 4 servings of 140 calories each(with 9.2g of protein)

You could experiment with making this cake with other flavors of Yoplait Light yogurt, there are lots of dessert flavors that I think would work well!

Ingredients:(makes 1 cake, 4 servings)

  • 1 Lil Buff Fitfetti Cake Mix(57g)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
  • 44g liquid egg whites
  • Butter extract
  • Yoplait Light Boston Cream Pie Yogurt
  • 15g Lily’s Semi Sweet Baking Chips
  • 3g Earth Balance European Style Buttery Spread
  • Coconut oil spray, or other non-stick spray

Nutritional Info(for 1/4 of whole cake):

140 calories – 9.21g Protein / 15.43g Carbs / 4.58g Fat

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Mix cake mix, egg whites, almond milk, apple sauce and butter extract
  3. Grease 2 medium ramekins and divide batter between them
  4. Bake for 15 minutes
  5. Remove cakes from oven when done, loosen and remove from ramekins
  6. In a separate bowl combine baking chips with buttery spread, microwave for 10 second intervals until melted(stirring in between)
  7. Spread about half the container of yogurt on top of one of the cakes
  8. Place second cake on top of the first cake(yogurt in the middle)
  9. Mix remaining yogurt into chocolate mixture and spoon over top of the cake stack
  10. Enjoy! Refrigerate for up to 2 days
Gluten Free Boston Cream Pie Protein Cake
Gluten free, Low Calorie, Macro Friendly, Uncategorized

80 Calorie Banana Bread

This recipe is a great way to use up an over-ripe banana and get some protein in. This banana bread is easy to make and is also gluten free and macro friendly since it is low calorie.

This recipe is not dairy free due to the Lil Buff Cake Mix, but once their vegan cake mixes are available I bet it will work to substitute the vegan mix for the FitFetti mix.

I used my Wilton mini loaf pan but you could also use a cupcake pan, small ramekins or loaf pan – just watch the cooking time to make sure you don’t over or under-cook it.

These reheat very well, I recommend reheating them in an air fryer if you have one, just make sure you put them on a piece of foil so they don’t stick.

Ingredients:(makes 6 mini loaves)

  • Lil Buff Fitfetti Cake Mix (57g, one single serve bag)
  • Unsweetened almond milk(1/4 cup)
  • 133g banana
  • 1 whole egg (50g)
  • Butter extract, Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon and Salt
  • Coconut oil spray or other non-stick spray

Nutritional Information(for 1 cake, recipe makes 6):

80 calories – 5.6g Protein / 7.87g Carbs / 2.82g Fat

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Mash banana
  3. Add almond milk, egg, and cake mix
  4. Add 1/4 tsp butter extract, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and a pinch of salt – mix everything until combined
  5. Grease mini loaf pans with coconut oil spray
  6. Divide batter evenly between 6 cavities
  7. Bake for 20-30 minutes until center is cooked through
  8. Carefully remove from pan and allow to cool – top with more cinnamon. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze

Enjoy!

Gluten free, Low Calorie, Macro Friendly, Recipes, Uncategorized

Protein Peach Cobbler

This peach cobbler only uses 4 ingredients and is super quick to throw together for a weeknight treat. It is also gluten free!

I got the idea for this recipe from the “diet soda hack” cobblers I have seen on Pinterest. I bought a few of the Lil Buff Protein mixes and have been experimenting with using them in different desserts. These mixes do contain whey protein but Lil Buff is coming out with a vegan version soon that I am excited to try! When I am able to get some of the new vegan mixes I will try this recipe again 🙂

Peach Cobbler before adding the diet soda and cinnamon

All you need are peaches(fresh or canned will work), diet soda(I used Zevia Cream soda), Lil Buff Protein Cake Mix(I used Fit-Fetti), and cinnamon. I think this would also be good with the gingerbread cake mix flavor but I haven’t tried it yet.

I topped my cobbler with a scoop of Vanilla Maple Dairy Free Halo Top which added 95 calories, but the total calories were still under 250 which I think is really good for a dessert! It also had a total of almost 15g of protein.

Protein Peach Cobbler with DF Halo Top

Ingredients:

  • 145 grams peaches
  • 23 grams Lil Buff Protein Cake mix(half of a single serve bag)
  • 1/2 cup Diet Soda
  • Cinnamon, to taste

optional: Halo Top or other ice cream or whipped topping

Nutritional Info(not including optional topping):

154 calories – 11.8g Protein / 20.2 Carbs / 2.8g Fat

Instructions:

  1. Chop up peaches into small pieces, you do not need to remove the skin but you do need to remove the pit
  2. Place peaches in a medium size ramekin
  3. Sprinkle cake mix over the top of the peaches evenly and press down so it is in the crevices, sprinkle cinnamon on top
  4. Pour about 1/2 cup of diet soda over the top, do this slowly so it doesn’t overflow
  5. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top again if desired
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes
  7. Let cool slightly and top with ice cream/whipped cream etc., serve while still warm

Enjoy!

Dairy Free, Gluten free, Low Calorie, Macro Friendly, Recipes, Uncategorized

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie, gluten free, dairy free, low calorie, macro friendly

I love Key Lime Pie in the summer – so I came up with this gluten free, dairy free, macro friendly version.

You can substitute whatever yogurt you like but I used the Kite Hill Unsweetened Almond Greek Yogurt – I love this one because it’s really thick and has a good amount of protein even though it is dairy free.

For the crust I used KIND Oats and Honey granola but you could also use crushed nuts or graham crackers if you prefer. You will also need Sugar Free Lime Jell-O powder – you can substitute this for the regular(not Sugar Free) lime Jell-O or use a lime extract/flavoring or lime juice.

Ingredients: (makes one serving)

  • 1 container Kite Hill unsweetened greek yogurt
  • 14 grams of granola
  • 5 grams Sugar Free Lime Jell-O powder

Optional: whipped topping of choice

Nutrition(not including optional topping):

236 calories – 14g Protein / 18g Carbs / 12g Fat

Instructions:

  1. Stir your greek yogurt until it is smooth and all liquid is incorporated
  2. Add Jell-o powder to greek yogurt(in the container) and stir until completely dissolved/combined
  3. In a small ramekin spread the granola in an even layer
  4. Spread yogurt mix over granola in ramekin
  5. Set in the freezer until it has reached your desired hardness – I left it overnight and then let it thaw a bit before I ate it
  6. Top with whipped topping and Enjoy!

Dairy Free, Gluten free, Low Calorie, Macro Friendly, Recipes

Dole Whip

You only need 3 ingredients and a blender to make this pineapple-loaded treat, it’s perfect for summer! My Dole Whip recipe is gluten free, dairy free, and macro friendly. This is a great recipe to whip up quickly as a single serve dessert to cool off and satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you are allergic to almonds you can sub out the almond milk for any other type of milk that works for you.

Ingredients: (makes 1 serving)

  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • frozen pineapple chunks, 160 grams
  • pineapple fruit cup(with the juice)

optional: CocoWhip or Redi Whip

Nutrition(without optional topping):

169 calories, 1.4g Protein / 37g Carbs / 1.7g Fat

Instructions:

  1. Cut your pineapple into chunks and freeze(if you are using fresh pineapple, if you’re using frozen pineapple you won’t need to do this)
  2. In your blender add 1/2 cup almond milk, the frozen pineapple and pineapple fruit cup with the juice
  3. Blend – check every 30 seconds to see if any pineapple chunks are stuck.
  4. Keep blending until the consistency is smooth
  5. Serve in a glass on it’s own or top with whipped topping
dole whip gluten free and vegan

Dairy Free, Gluten free, Recipes, Vegan

Blueberry Crisp

2 ingredient Blueberry Crisp

This blueberry crisp is an easy and delicious recipe – whether you’re counting macros or just want a sweet dessert it doesn’t get any easier than this! This dessert is gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and easy to make as a single serving or for a crowd.

You only need 2 ingredients to make my blueberry crisp – blueberries and granola – but if you want to get creative you can add coconut oil or other fruits. I have made this with pears, apples, blueberries and cinnamon depending on what I have on hand. This is a great way to use up fruit that is on the verge of getting too ripe. If you use fruits other than blueberries just be sure to dice them up small enough so they will cook through.

You can use whatever granola you have on hand, I like the Nature’s Path Vanilla Pumpkin Seed Granola personally.

Ingredients: (for one serving)

  • blueberries, 180 grams
  • granola, 30 grams

optional: other fruits, cinnamon, coconut oil, toppings like chocolate chips, Halo Top or whipped cream

Nutritional Info(does not include optional toppings):

235 calories – 4.3g Protein / 33 Carbs / 4.5 Fat

Instructions:

  1. Wash fruit and spread in an even layer in baking dish or ramekin(if you are adding coconut oil melt the oil and mix into the fruit now)
  2. Sprinkle granola on top of the fruit
  3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, until the fruit is bubbly and the granola is browned
  4. Serve warm by itself or top with Halo Top or Whipped Cream.

Enjoy!

Blueberry Crisp with Dairy Free Birthday Cake Halo Top
Blueberry Crisp, 2 ingredients, gluten free dairy free vegan macro friendly
Product Recommendations, Recipes

Gluten Free Vegan Grilled Cheese

When I started eating gluten free and dairy free one of the things I missed most was Grilled Cheese. It took me a while to figure out how to replicate a grilled cheese sandwich without gluten or dairy but I finally found a method that worked for me! The main hurdle was finding vegan cheese that tasted good and melted properly so I’ve used a combination of cheeses and melting methods here to get my grilled cheese sandwich to turn out perfectly. I’m sharing my secret for the perfect gluten free and vegan grilled cheese – test it out and let me know what you think!

 

gluten free and vegan grilled cheese

 

You will need:

Vegan buttery spread of choice – I use Melt or Earth Balance

2 slices GF Bread of choice – I used Little Northern Bakehouse Seeds & Grains bread

2 slices Follow Your Heart American Style Slices

1/4 cup Miyoko’s Vegan Mozz (optional)

 

  1. Line a cookie sheet or other small metal pan with foil
  2. Spread buttery spread on one side of each piece of bread
  3. Place bread on foil lined tray with buttered side down
  4. Put 1 American Style slice on each piece of bread
  5. Broil on high for 2-3 minutes until cheese begins to melt
  6. Add crumbled Miyoko’s mozzarella if desired and broil another 1-2 minutes
  7. Remove from oven, press 2 halves together to form sandwich
  8. Place in pan on stovetop over medium heat
  9. Cook for 2-3 minutes each side until desired level of browning is reached

 

If your bread is frozen let it thaw or toast it for a minute to bring it to room temperature.

The Miyoko’s mozzarella is not necessary(I usually just use the American slices) but if you want an extra cheesy grilled cheese it’s awesome to add. Other things you can add are salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.

This is great on its own or served with a bowl of tomato soup 🙂

Enjoy!

 

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Holidays, Recipes

Gluten Free Dairy Free Green Bean Casserole

Thanksgiving sides can be filled with hidden gluten – including things that might seem safe like Green Bean Casserole. But with a few substitutions you can make this Thanksgiving favorite gluten free and dairy free! Depending on your choice of mushroom soup this can also be much lower in calories than the original.

 

GF DF Green Bean Casserole Recipe:

1 can green beans (large)

Aldi’s LiveGFree French Fried Onions(for topping)

1.5-2 cups mushroom soup – I used the Mushroom and Steel Cut Oats soup from Splendid Spoon but you could also use Imagine brand Portobello Mushroom soup(both are vegan) or if you’re fine with dairy you can use the Pacific brand Cream of Mushroom Soup

Aldi LiveGFree French Fried Onions

Skinnee B’s GF DF Green Bean Casserole

 

  1. First heat up the soup in a saucepan over low heat.
  2. Drain can of green beans and add to soup
  3. Cook her low heat 5-10 minutes, stirring
  4. Transfer to casserole dish and top with french fried onions
  5. Bake 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes until onions are browned

The Mushroom and Steel Cut Oats soup only has 97 calories per serving (about half the calories of regular Cream of Mushroom soup once you add in the milk) which means you can be extra generous with the French Fried Onions 🙂

(The Aldi’s French Fried Onions are a seasonal item so stock up to use them in salads, meatloaf, casseroles and more!)

Check out my post on GF Thanksgiving Stuffing here

Enjoy!

 

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Holidays, Product Comparisons, Product Recommendations

GF Thanksgiving Stuffing Comparison

It’s just about time for Thanksgiving dinner preparations and I know this can be a challenging time of year for those on a gluten free diet. Thankfully there are tons of gluten free options you can substitute for your old gluten-filled holiday favorites. Thanksgiving dinner, in my opinion, requires stuffing so I tested out a few different gluten free stuffing mixes to find the best one.

gluten free thanksgiving stuffing comparison skinneebs.com

Olivia’s Gluten Free Stuffing

I added celery, Earth Balance buttery spread, and turkey bone broth to this stuffing mix and seasoned with salt, pepper, and onion powder. This was pretty easy to assemble and bake, it took me about a hour overall. I covered the baking dish with foil for the first 30 minutes then let it bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes. I thought this needed more salt and was a bit mushier than I like(I like soft stuffing but not mushy) but this would work in a pinch. One thing I appreciated about this stuffing was that it was easy to make dairy free, I just substituted Earth Balance in place of butter for sautéing the celery. I found this mix at my local grocery store, Standard Market. The box makes 9 servings and filled my standard glass pie plate nicely.

 

Aldi’s LiveGFree Stuffing

 

This stuffing is my favorite so far. I used the chicken flavor but Aldi also sells a turkey flavor. All you need to add is butter and water – I used Earth Balance instead of butter. This mix was not dairy free but milk is just listed as an ingredient in the bread so if you can tolerate a small amount of dairy you should be ok. I am pretty sensitive to dairy and I was fine eating a large portion of this stuffing. You could add other things like celery and onion if you prefer, but I think this stuffing tastes fine on its own. I did add a little celery salt, salt, and pepper.

 

Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse 10 Minute Stuffing

I followed the directions for this stuffing and didn’t add anything except the broth(I used Pacific Bone Broth) and Earth Balance “butter”. This was very quick to make but I think it would have been better with some celery and I ended up adding celery salt, salt and pepper. This was also dairy free and soy free which is a bonus. I didn’t like it as much as the Aldi’s stuffing but if you can’t have dairy this is a good option, I would suggest adding some veggies, seasoning, and possibly baking in a casserole dish after making it on the stovetop.

 

Pacific Gluten Free Stuffing

The instructions for this stuffing were kind of confusing – first I sautéed celery and mushrooms(instead of onions) in Earth Balance “butter” while heating up broth(I used Pacific Chicken Bone Broth) in a separate pan. Then I added the stuffing mix to the veggies and combined that with the broth. Then the broth mixture was covered with a lid and left to simmer for 10-15 minutes. After 15 minutes the liquid still wasn’t totally incorporated but I continued following the directions to let it stand for 10 more minutes. It was still pretty liquid-y so I turned up the heat and stirred to get rid of the excess liquid. But then some of the croutons were still dry in the middle – I think this is because the crouton pieces were really big, much bigger than the other mixes I tried. I liked the flavor but this mix was more difficult to work with. However it is also dairy free and soy free so if you are willing to put in some extra effort to make it work this might be a good option for you.

 

 

Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Stuffing – I found this stuffing mix at Trader Joe’s, but it does contain dairy in the mix itself. I haven’t tried it yet but I will update this post once I do.

 

If you can’t find a gluten free stuffing mix in stores near you it’s also pretty easy to make your own – I recommend using Udi’s gluten free bread as it works well for soaking up the broth and spices.

 

Check out my recipe for GF DF Green Bean Casserole here

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Meal Delivery Services

Splendid Spoon – Meal Delivery Reviews

Meal Delivery Programs: Part 4

(Scroll down for links to Part 1: Sakara, Part 2: Freshly, and Part 3: Veestro)

*I was not compensated for these reviews, all opinions expressed are my own*

Splendid Spoon

splendidspoon.com (Disclaimer: If you order through this link you will get $25 off and so will I)

Splendid Spoon offers 5 day per week breakfast and lunch programs as well as a special soup cleanse. The breakfast options are all smoothies and the lunch options are almost all soups with the occasional quinoa bowl. The weekly delivery arrives frozen and can be stored in the refrigerator for the week or frozen.

I started out with the 4 week breakfast and lunch(5 days per week) plan – this cost $9 per meal including shipping. You have the option to log on and select your soups, otherwise they select soups for you. I really liked the soups; they had a nice variety and in the fall/winter it’s nice to have a warm lunch that’s easy to prepare. I also appreciated that all of the soups are GF and vegan as that can be hard to find, and they are freshly prepared rather than canned. I find soups to be something where if you make it from scratch you have to make a lot of it, so I appreciate being able to get a single portion of many different homemade soups. The soups can be microwaved or you can heat them up on the stove(this is much better IMO). I also liked that they list the full nutritional information on each item. Because I purchased a 4 week package I was able to schedule my delivery weeks in advance rather than having to log in and “opt out” of the weeks that I knew I didn’t want a delivery – I liked this much better than other systems because I didn’t have to worry about remembering to log on to skip a week.

To be honest I thought the breakfast smoothies were terrible, and when I logged on to my account to see if I could select some different things for the following week I saw that there were only 6 options(5 of which I had already tried and could barely choke down). However the company was accommodating when I reached out to them and they refunded me so that I could just do the soup lunch option instead of breakfast. Soups travel well and are easy to reheat while smoothies are another story entirely due to separation, getting it to the right temperature etc. – so I must say I don’t have much hope for their smoothies improving in the future.

Pros: all GF and vegan, choose your own meals, variety of good soups, calorie info listed, lots of options(24 soups), option to avoid other ingredients(spicy, beets, mushrooms, soy, tree nuts, coconut, peanuts)

Cons: Breakfast options are limited and gross, limited options outside of soup,

Tips:

  1. If you decide to get the breakfast smoothies do not let them thaw completely
  2. Check out the Splendid Spoon Facebook group for ideas of what to add/how to prepare meals differently
  3. Heat the thicker soups(Congee, mushroom with oats) on the stove instead of the microwave so they can thicken properly
  4. If you heat up the soup in a saucepan, pour it back into the original container to serve it – one less dish to wash

Favorite Meals: Kabocha Congee, Carrot Lentil Curry, Red Bell Pepper Bisque, Mushroom with Steel Cut Oats

Summary: I don’t think I would do this program in the summer and I wish their smoothies were better(supposedly they are working to improve them) but I enjoy getting the soups in the fall/winter months.

 

You can read my reviews of other meal delivery programs at the following links:

Part 1: Sakara

Part 2: Freshly

Part 3: Veestro

 

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